Captain Iain Henderson is hoping to take out the frustration of the last six months on derby rivals Leinster as Ulster travel to the RDS for a crucial United Rugby Championship clash tomorrow evening.
Leinster top the table, eight points clear of the northern province although Dan McFarland’s side have a game in hand against the Sharks in South Africa that has yet to be rearranged after being postponed in October.
A win for Ulster will narrow the gap on Leinster to three or four points going into the first set of European fixtures, a defeat would leave the Kingspan outfit trailing Leo Cullen’s side by double figures and making the task of overhauling the Dubliners to claim top seeds for the end of season play-offs virtual impossible.
Two-time British and Irish Lions lock Henderson made his long-awaited return from injury last Friday night coming off the bench for the last half hour in the bonus-point win over Zebre Parma and is ready to make up for lost time as Ulster face three interpro’s and four European games in consecutive weeks.
“Going down the road to Dublin is as big as any game of the season, then we have back-to-backs in Europe, so we definitely have our work cut out,” commented Henderson.
“Going into Leinster if we can cut out the discipline errors and keep our maul going and play some rugby the way our backs like to.”
Henderson missed Ireland’s summer tour victory in New Zealand and although was brought into Andy Farrell’s training camp for the autumn internationals the second row didn’t see any action.
“We had a plan between me, the coaches and the physios and a frustrating as that has been, we have got here.
“I'm good, hands are good, knee is good. It's more the challenge of getting training load under my belt to ensure that when I get back, I don't get injured again, that's the main goal.”
“With the season ahead I want to be sure that I'm as fit as I can be for as much of it as possible,
that's the thing at the minute.”
“In my head, I wanted that last South Africa game or the Munster game, that's what I've been pushing for but every time I'm having that conversation I have to step back and remember that's what I was told on my first day of rehab. I was told then that I'd have to trust the guys and put my faith in them to make sure that what I'm doing is the right decision for me. If I knew, I would tell you.”
Henderson’s comeback was delayed to give him the best chance of making next year’s World Cup in France.
“Usually come May, you're thinking about getting to the end of (your provincial) season, then you've the summer tour and you're putting your feet up.”
“That's really only where it's starting in a World Cup year, there's a lot of rugby to be played between now and the end of the season, both for Ulster and internationally, and then obviously there'll be a summer series before the World Cup too.”
“To be able to stay fit through all that is a challenge in itself but I want to be sure myself that I've put myself in the best position to contribute as much as I can.”
Ulster are without Scottish and Lion prop Rory Sutherland for the trip to the RDS while tight head Marty Moore is a doubt.
Leinster will make a late call on the fitness of Ireland captain Johnny Sexton.
